Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a report on the effect of driving with impaired vision on the safety of motorcyclists.

The Department has no current plans to commission a report on the effect of driving with impaired vision on the safety of motorcyclists.

All drivers and riders must be able to meet the required visual acuity and visual field standards, which includes being able to read a number plate from 20 metres. Drivers are also legally responsible for notifying the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) at any time of a change in their health or vision which may affect their ability to meet the appropriate standards.

The Government fully supports the NHS’s recommendation that adults should have their eyes tested every two years. The DVLA has changed its driving licence application forms to highlight the importance of having regular eyesight tests. The photo card driving licence renewal letter that the DVLA sends to drivers has also been amended to include this important message.